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Kerr: Every American should be disgusted with what's going on in the country

J Pat Carter / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Steve Kerr has never been one to shy away from political discourse, as the Golden State Warriors coach reminded us when speaking out on gun control earlier this summer, and Kerr won't shy away from one of the most political talking points in sports today.

With a number of American athletes, particularly in the NFL, staging forms of protest during the singing of the national anthem lately, Kerr said Wednesday that he respects views on both sides of an issue that will surely carry over to the NBA season.

"One of the best things that's come out of the (Colin) Kaepernick issue is that people are talking, and that's a good thing," Kerr told reporters Wednesday. "No matter what side of the spectrum you're on, I would hope every American is disgusted with what's going on in the country, what just happened in Tulsa two days ago with Terrence Crutcher. Doesn't matter what side you're on on the Kaepernick stuff, you better be disgusted with the things that are happening."

Crutcher's was the latest life claimed by the epidemic of unarmed African-Americans being fatally wounded by U.S. law enforcement, something that prompted NBA stars like Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo to speak out on social media this week.

Kaepernick, of course, has been perhaps the most prominent anthem protester in America, choosing to sit or kneel during the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" rather than stand. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has said that he won't stand for a flag and country that he believes oppresses people of color.

"This is what our country is about. It's a non-violent protest," Kerr said Wednesday, before reiterating that what truly matters is that unarmed African-Americans are being killed across the U.S.

"The other stuff, you can talk about all day. Nobody's right, nobody's wrong. But that matters and everybody should be trying to do something, whatever's in their power."

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